Laws & Regulations

Report: Improvements Needed by EPA OIG to Reduce Risk in Employee Hiring Process

Report #15-B-0076, February 5, 2015. Without verification of prior employment or references the EPA OIG may not hire the best job candidates.

Report: EPA Employees Did Not Act Consistently With Agency Policy in Assisting an EPA Grantee

Report #14-P-0247, May 9, 2014. Fish contamination data was withheld that could have been useful to the scientific community and the public.

Report: Air Quality Objectives for the Baton Rouge Ozone Nonattainment Area Not Met Under EPA Agreement 2A-96694301 Awarded to the Railroad Research Foundation

Report #13-R-0297, June 20, 2013. The Railroad Research Foundation has not complied with the requirements of cooperative agreement 2A-96694301.

Report: Audit of EPA’s Fiscal 2013 and 2012 Consolidated Financial Statements

Report #14-1-0039, December 16, 2013. System weaknesses could impact the reliability of financial information.

Report: Independent Environmental Sampling Shows Some Properties Designated by EPA as Available for Use Had Some Contamination

Report #15-P-0221, July 21, 2015. Some OIG sampling results showed contamination was still present at sites designated by the EPA as ready for reuse. This was unexpected and could signal a need to implement changes to ensure human health protection.

Report: The EPA Needs to Improve Management of Its School Environmental Health Efforts

Report #13-P-0201, March 27, 2013. The EPA established children’s health as a priority.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Outreach and Communication About the National Pesticide Information Center’s Role and Services

Report #15-P-0046, January 7, 2015. Improved communication to state agencies regarding NPIC's role and services will improve NPIC's value and ability to provide reliable information to the public and states.

Report: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Site Visit of Yauco – La Jurada Community Distribution System, Yauco, Puerto Rico

Report #13-R-0413, September 23, 2013. Based on our site visit, no issues or concerns came to our attention that would require action from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, PRDOH, PRASA or EPA.

Report: Review of Hotline Complaint Regarding Residential Soil Contamination in Cherryvale, Kansas

Report #13-P-0207, March 28, 2013. EPA Region 7 screened residential properties for soil contamination during its 2001–2002 removal activities near the former National Zinc Company smelter, but could not provide us with complete documentation.

Report: Hyperspectral Imaging Can Be a Useful Evaluation Tool for Office of Inspector General Reviews Focused on Contaminated Land

Report #14-N-0360, September 26, 2014. Hyperspectral imaging is an evaluation tool that has specialized value in designing and conducting Office of Inspector General assessments of cleanup actions.

Report: Time and Attendance Fraud Not Identified for Employees on Extended Absence, But Matters of Concern Brought to EPA’s Attention

Report #15-P-0167, June 15, 2015. We identified concerns over the accuracy of time charges, use of a personal computer, and safety of telework space for reasonable accommodations.

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Management of the Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Regulation Program in Order to Strengthen Protection of Human Health and the Environment

Report #14-P-0143, March 21, 2014. An absence in management controls could lead the EPA to receive electronic documents that are unacceptable in administrative or judicial enforcement proceedings.

Report: Results and Benefits Information Is Needed to Support Impacts of EPA’s Superfund Removal Program

Report #13-P-0176, March 11, 2013. EPA does not measure the environmental impact and benefits of the Superfund removal program.

Report: Fiscal Years 2012 and 2011 (Restated) Financial Statements for the Pesticide Registration Fund

Report #14-1-0042, December 17, 2013. The agency corrected material misstatements due to weaknesses in internal controls we identified.

Report: The EPA’s Comments Improve the Environmental Impact Statement Process But Verification of Agreed-Upon Actions Is Needed

Report #13-P-0352, August 22, 2013. We found that federal agencies are making changes to their EISs to mitigate or eliminate potential environmental risks based on the EPA’s comments.

Report: Improvements Needed to Secure IT Assets at EPA-Owned Research Facilities

Report #13-P-0252, May 8, 2013. Facilities management at the Office of Research and Development facilities does not consistently apply, or in some cases establish, controls to protect IT assets.

Report: The EPA Needs to Improve Timeliness and Documentation of Workforce and Workload Management Corrective Actions

Report #13-P-0366, August 30, 2013. The EPA did not complete the majority of the corrective actions relating to workload and workforce management within planned timeframes.

Report: Limitations on the EPA’s Authority Under the Safe Drinking Water Act Resulted in Unaddressed Concerns at a Tribal Drinking Water Plant

Report #13-P-0308, July 2, 2013.In 2007, prior to providing funding to the FBIC DWTP project, the EPA contracted with Rural and Tribal Environmental Solutions to provide plan and specification reviews for public water system construction in Indian Country.

Report: Controls and Oversight Needed to Improve Administration of EPA’s Customer Service Lines

Report #13-P-0432, September 26, 2013. The EPA has a variety of resources—including telephone hotlines, Web clearinghouses, and other online reference information—which the OIG has categorized as customer service lines (CSLs).

Report: EPA Needs to Improve Air Emissions Data for the Oil and Natural Gas Production Sector

Report #13-P-0161, February 20, 2013. High levels of growth in the oil and natural gas (gas) production sector have underscored the need for EPA to gain a better understanding of emissions and potential risks from the production of oil and gas.